Adjustable scaffold hanger for ladders



June 13, 1944. w c o ow c 2,351,310

ADJUSTABLE SQAFFOLD HANGER FOR LADDERS- Filed Aug. '7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 art 0W J3 J4 11 24 3 3% h ZZZZa/n yamzolowm June 13, 1944. w c, YARMOLOWlCH 2,351,310

ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD HANGER FOR LADbERs Filed Aug. 7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 13., 1944 ADJUSTABLE 'SCAFFOLD HANGER FOR LADDERS 1 William C. Yarmolowich, Alliance, Ohio, assignor of one-fourth to Louis Bacon, Alliance, Ohio Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,760

8 Claims.

The invention relates to scaffold hangers such as are hung upon the rungs of two or more spaced ladders supported in upright position against a wall or structure, a wood plank or the'like being supported upon said hangers forming a footing for workmen at a desired height above the ground.'

It is an object of the invention to provide a scaffold hanger which is easily and quickly adjustable either upward or downward upon the ladders.

Another object is -to provide such a scaffold hanger with means for accomplishing the adjustment without necessitating the removal of the scaffold plank therefrom.

Still another object is the provision of an adjustable hanger of the character referred to which permits the operator to adjust the same without himself descending to the ground.

' A further object is the provision of an automatic safety catch which permits quick and easy adjustment of the hanger in either direction and holds the hanger in adjusted position.

A still further object is to provide a scaffold hanger which is quickly and easily reversible to support a scaffold plank on either front or rear side of the ladders.

The invention contemplates the provision of a scaffold hanger comprising two parallel, longitudinal tubes connected by cross braces, a transverse pivot pin being carried at the upper ends of said tubular members, automaticcatches being suspended from the intermediate portion of the pin for engagement with the rungs of the ladder and tie rods being booked at their upper ends to the projecting ends of the pin and pivotally connected at their lower ends to a U- shaped rod pivoted upon the tubesand-supporting a scafiold plank.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, or which may be lat-er referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved scaffold hanger in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is afrontelevation of a portionof a ladder showing the adjustable scaffold hanger .to which the invention pertainsmounted thereon; Fig. 2, a vertical, longitudinal, sectional View through the ladder showing the scaffold hanger mounted on the front side of the ladderand showing in broken lines the manner in which the hanger may be reversed and hung onthe rear side of the ladder;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional view of the ladder and scafioldhanger showing the automatic catch in the normal position with the hanger descending the ladder; and

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the automatic catch in the normal position with the hanger ascending the ladder.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the drawings.

A portion of a conventional ladder is shown in the drawings for the purpose of' illustrating the manner in which the improved adjustable scaffold hanger is applied to, said ladder comprising the usual uprights or side rails I0. and rungs II.

The improved adjustable scaffoldhanger comprises a spaced parallel pair of longitudinal side members l2 preferably of tubular formation in order to reduce the Weight of the hanger which is preferably composed of metal. The upper and lower ends of the members [2 are preferably'of cone shape as indicated at l3 in order to eliminate sharp corners upon these members which might catch upon the rungs of the ladder as the hanger is slidably moved up or down thereon. These conical ends may be formed by cutting out portions of the metal at the ends of the tubes as indicated at M and displacing the end portions of the tubes inwardly.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings these,

longitudinal members l2 should be of sufficient length to span at least three rungs of the ladder, so that in any position of the scaffold hanger relative to the ladder, the scaffold hanger will be in contact with at least two rungs of th ladder.

so as to maintain its parallel relation to the ladder at all times.

The longitudinal members I2 of the hanger are connected by cross braces l5, l6 and H, at the top intermediate portions and lower ends respectively of the tubes l2.

The upper cross brace l5 may have a loop or eye l8 formed at its central portion for connection of a rope I 9 extending upwardly and through a pulley (not shown) at the top of the ladder and then downward to the groundfor the purpose of addjgsting the scaffold longitudinally upon the la er.

Bearings 20 are formed on the outer or front sides of the tubes l2 at points near the-upper ends thereof and a transverse pivot pin 2| isv stops or shoulders 23 formed thereon which may 7 parts be in the form of spots of welding metal as shown in Fi ure 1.

The automatic catches indicated generally at 24 are provided at their upper ends with bearing portions 25 journalled upon the upper pivot pin 2|. Shoulders or stops 26, preferably in the form of spots of weld metal, maybe formed upon the pivot pin 2| on the inner side of said bearings 25 of the automaticcatches to prevent lateral movement of the automatic catches relative to the pivot pin.

Each of the automatic catches 24 is of substantially A-shape provided with a crossbar 21 at a point spaced from the lower ends of the legs of the A, the inner or rear leg being bent slightly inward below said cross bar as indicated at 28; The other leg 29 of the A may be slightly longer and at its lower end as at 30 is hingedly mounted an angular flipper 3| which normally hangs downward in the positions shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the inturned lower end 32 thereof being suspended in the pathof the rungs H of the ladder as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

' Tie rods 33 are providedwith open hook 34 at their upper ends forengagement over the outer end portions of the pivot pin 2| and may be provided with one or more additional hooks 35 for selective engagement with the pivot pin 2| to compensate for the slope of the ladder in order to hold the scaffold plank in horizontal position as will be later described.

The tie rods 33 are provided at their lower ends with eyes or closed loops 36 pivotally mounted upon the endsof the legs 31 of the U-shape rod 38 which is journalled inbearings 39 formed upon the front or outer sidesof the tubular members l2 at points spaced from their lower ends. Heads 40 may be formed upon the ends of the legs 31 to prevent the tie rods from becoming disconnected therefrom.

By engaging the proper hooks 34 or 35 of the tie rods 33 with the upper pivot pin 2|, the legs 31 of the 'U-shape rod 38 may be supported in the horizontal position so that a scaffold plank 4| may be supported'thereon.

In Figure 2 the hanger is shown in broken lines in reverse position upon the back of the inner side of the ladder. In order to reverse the hanger upon the ladder the plank 4| is removed'and the tie rods are unhooked from the upper pivot pin 2| and the U-shape rod '38 is swivelled in the bearings 39 to the position shown in the broken lines, the tie rods 33 being swivelled around the legs of said U-shape rod and hooked upon the upper pivot pin 2| in proper position to hold the legs 31 of the U-shape rodin horizontal position. A scaffold plank Ma may then be placed upon the legs 31 of the U-sh'aiae rod, upon the inner or rear side of the ladder. 1

To adjust the hanger upward upon theladder, by pulling upon the rope IS! the entire structure will be slidably moved upward upon the rungs of the ladder and the automaticcatches 24 as they contact each rung of the'ladder will be swung outward upon their pivots 2| in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 4 thereby allowing the automatic catch to move past each rung. When the hanger has been movedto the desired height, with the leg-28 of the automatic catch abovethe proper rung II, the entire structure may be slightly lowered permitting the catch to be wedged around the rung as shown in Fig. 2, the leg 28 engaging-the rear or inner side of the rung and the cross bar 21 resting upon the rung while the leg. 29 engages over the front'or outer side of the cross brace |6thus holding the catch in this position and supporting the entire hanger structure at this height.

When the hanger is lowered the hinged flipper 3| will be moved upward to closed position as shown in Fig. 3, as it passes each rung, the inclined end 32 of the flipper causing the entire automatic catch to pivot upon its pivot point 2| swinging outwardly or forwardly in the direction of the 'arrow shown in Fig. 3. As the catch moves downward past each rung the flipper 3| will again swing downward into open position. When the hanger has been moved downward just below the rung upon which it is to be supported,

permitting the flipper to swing open, the entire structure may be raised slightly so that the leg 28 of the automatic catch clears the rung at which time the structure may be again lowered wedging the catch over the rung in the position shown in Fig. 2.

From the above it will be obvious that the hanger may be quickly and easily adjusted, being either raised or lowered as desired to the required position, the automatic catches permitting free movement of the hanger in either direction until the desired position is reached at which time the catch may be operated as above described to hold the hanger in the desired adjusted position.

It will further be apparent that the hanger may be quickly and easily adjusted to compensate for the slope of the ladder so as to hold the scaffold plank in horizontal position and the hanger may be also easily and readily reversed, so as to support a scaffold plank upon the rear or inner side of the ladder.

It will also be seen that the adjustments of the scaffold hanger may be made without requiring removal of the scaffold plank and without necessitating the operator's descending to the ground to make adjustments. Furthermore, it will be obvious that this scaffold hanger is a considerable improvement over the conventional scaffold hangers now in common use as this hanger may be easily folded into a minimum for storage when not in use. The hanger may be supported upon either single or double ladders without requiring any change inthe construction or operation as above described.

I claim:

1. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable scaffold hanger comprising a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal s1iding movement upon the rungs of the ladder, said longitudinal members being of a length sufiicient to span at least three rungs of the ladder, cross braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the upper portions of the longitudinal members and projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U- shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs of the- U-shape rod and having hooks at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the U:-shape rodin horizontal position, a scaffold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, and a catch carried by the pivot pin for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holding the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder,

said catch providing the only connection between 'fllnallel longitudinal members for longitudinal slide ing movement upon the rungs of the ladder, cross braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the upper portions of the longitudinal members and projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U- shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs of the U-shape rod and having hook at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the U-shape rod in horizontal position, a scaffold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, means for swinging the U-shape rod upon its pivot to reverse position at the rear of the ladder, means for connecting the tie rods to the pivot pin for holding the U-shape rod in horizontal position at the rear of the ladder, and a catch carried by the pivot pin for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holding the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder.

3. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable scaffold hanger comprising a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal sliding movement upon the rungs of the ladder, said longitudinal members being of a length suificient to span at least three rungs of the ladder, cross braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the upper portions of the longitudinal members and projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U- shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs of the U-shape rod and havin hooks at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the LI shape rod in horizontal position, a scaffold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, and a catch pivotally suspended from the pivot pin for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holding the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder, said catch providing the only connection between the scaffold hanger and the ladder.

4. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable scaffold hanger comprising a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal sliding movement upon the rungs of the ladder, the upper and lower ends o-f'said longitudinal members being tapered, said longitudinal members being of a length suflicient to span at least three rungs of the ladder, cross braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the upper portions of the longitudinal members and projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U-shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs of the U-shape rod and having hooks at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the U-shape rod in horizontal position, a scafiold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, and a catch carried by the pivot pin for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holding the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder, said catch providing the only connection between the scafiold hanger and the ladder.

5. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable scafiold hanger comprising a pair Of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal sliding movement upon the rungs of the ladder, cross braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the.

upper portions of the longitudinal members and 5 projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U- shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs of the U-shape rod and having hooks at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the U- shape rod in horizontal position, a scaffold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, and an A-shape catch pivotally suspended from said pivot pin for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holding the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder.

6. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable scafiold hanger comprising a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal sliding movement upon the rungs of the ladder, cross braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the upper portions of the longitudinal members and projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U- shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs Of the U-shape rod and having hooks at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the U- 30 shape rod in horizontal position, a scaifold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, and

an A-shape catch pivotally suspended from said pivot pin for engagement with a rung 0f the ladder and with one of said cross braces for holding 35 the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder. 7. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable scafiold hanger comprising a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal sliding movement upon the rungs of the ladder, cross 40 braces connecting said longitudinal members together, a transverse pivot pin connected to the upper portions of the longitudinal members and projecting beyond the sides of the ladder, a U- shape rod pivotally connected to the lower portions of the longitudinal members, tie rods pivotally connected to the legs of the U-shape rod and having hooks at their upper ends for engaging said pivot pin to support the legs of the U- shape rod in horizontal position, a scaffold plank supported upon said legs of the U-shape rod, and an A-shape catch pivotally suspended from said pivot pin for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holding the hanger in adjusted position upon the ladder and a flipper pivotally connected to one leg of the A-shape catch.

8. In combination with a ladder, an adjustable device comprising a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal members for longitudinal sliding movement upon the rungs of the ladder and transversely disposed cross members connecting said longitudinal members together, and an A-shape catch pivotally suspended from said adjustable device for engagement with a rung of the ladder for holdin the adjustable device in adjusted position upon the ladder and a flipper pivotally connected to one leg of the A-shape catch and having an inwardly and upwardly inclined terminal end portion for swinging across the lower end of the other leg of the A-shape catch.

WILLIAM C. YARMOLOWICH. 

